Koenig decides to leave UWGB men

[Big D]

Posted Mar. 12, 2005

College basketball: Koenig decides to leave UWGB men

By Rob Demovsky
[e-mail]

For the second straight year, a former starter whose minutes dropped off late in the season has left the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball team.

Sophomore forward Tyler Koenig has decided to leave the school at the end of the spring semester and plans to try to play college football next season, according to UWGB coach Tod Kowalczyk.

Last offseason, guard Terry Parker left the Phoenix after his minutes declined late in the season and transferred to Louisiana Tech. While Parker left because he saw little opportunity to get his starting job back, Koenig’s reasons appear to be different.

“I just don’t think his heart is in basketball,” Kowalczyk said on Friday. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up playing football.”<br>
Koenig started 22 of 28 games as a freshman and the first 20 games of this season before being replaced by Benito Flores. Even before he lost his job to Flores, Koenig was averaging the fewest minutes of any starter.

Koenig finished seventh on the team in scoring (4.0 ppg) and averaged 16.3 minutes per game, the second fewest of any Phoenix regular.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Koenig was a highly recruited football player coming out of Fargo, N.D. Koenig couldn’t be reached for comment, but Kowalczyk said Koenig could end up playing football at North Dakota or North Dakota State.

Koenig issued a statement through an athletics department spokesperson.

“I am very grateful to coach Kowalczyk for giving me the opportunity to play at this level,” Koenig said.

“I enjoyed my time at UW-Green Bay, especially the relationships I have with the coaches and my teammates.”<br>
Koenig’s departure could leave the Phoenix with only two returning post players — Josh Lawrence and Tevah Morris — unless Flores wins an NCAA appeal for another year of eligibility. Kowalczyk said that Flores’ status might not be known for several months.

Two of the five high school players Kowalczyk signed in the fall are post players: Almond-Bancroft’s Randy Berry and Somerset’s Michael Schachtner. Kowalczyk likely will sign a junior college post player this spring.

Kowalczyk could have two more scholarships available because there is a strong possibility that seldom-used freshman guard Daniel Munday will transfer to a Division II school, where he could get more playing time. Munday appeared in only seven games and didn’t score.

One of the remaining scholarships could go to junior college guard Ontario McKee, who played in high school at Milwaukee Juneau. McKee, a 6-foot point guard, played the last two seasons at Southwest Missouri State-West Plains. He has been offered a scholarship by UWGB and is expected to make up his mind soon.
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/sports/archive/sports_20194388.shtml

[Big D]

UWGB is really screwed next year. They lose Benito Flores, Matt Rohde, Javier Mendiburu, Brandon Morris, and now Tyler Koenig. Those guys accounted for 50 out of 67 points a game and 22 out of 32 rebounds a game for the phenix this year.

[Raiderfan]

Even before Koenig left the team I figured they would struggle next year since they lose 3 starting guards. I didn't know that Flores might lose his eligibility? That would be the final nail in the coffin.

UIC also loses 2 key players in Banks & Williams......the rest of the HL teams return the majority of their key players.

[Big D]

Every HL team has some significant losses for next season. Obviously, UWGB is losing more than anyone else. As you mentioned, UIC loses Ced Banks and Armond Williams. They are 2 of the best players to ever suit up for UIC. Butler lost 2 players. Andy Grunst is graduating early and Nick Brooks is transfering. Neither is a huge loss, but Butler wasn't a very good team to begin with this year. CSU loses pg Walt Chavis and Omari Westley. CSU wasn't a very good team with Westley, they will be pathetic without him next season. Loyola loses DaJuan Gouard, Antoine Smith, and Anthony Smith. They have no experienced pg for next year and their only returning post players are Tyrelle Blair and Tom Levins. They made a nice run at the end of the season, but it will be interesting to see how they do next season without Gouards senior leadership and trying to keep Blair out of foul trouble. UWM losses Ed McCants, James Wright, and Rob Sanders. They will still be the team to beat next season. They return 4 starters and most of their bench. YSU loses Khari McQueen and Brian Radakovich. They sucked with those guys and they will suck without them. Detroit also loses James Thues next year.